Murder accused Indian pays fine with victim's money:Prosecutor

A 20-year-old Indian-origin man in New Zealand, accused of killing a compatriot, paid off court fines with latter's money, a media report said.
Shivneel Kumar along with his accomplice Bryne Permal (22) were charged in the Auckland High Court with the murder of 21-year-old supermarket worker Shalvin Prasad on January 30, 2013.
The trial began on Monday with the state prosecutor claiming the victim withdrew Prasad's life savings of 30,050 dollars from bank, at the request of Kumar on January 30, 2013, The New Zealand Herald reported.
Later that night, Prasad was allegedly taken to a rural South Auckland road where he was doused in petrol and set alight.

According to the state prosecutor, a post-mortem examination had confirmed he was "almost certainly" alive when the incident took place.
Prasad's charred body was found early the next day by a woman walking her dog.

While, police launched a homicide investigation, the two accused went on a lavish spending spree, the court was told by the prosecutor.
Kumar allegedly paid off 2437 dollars which he had accumulated in court fines as well as splashing out nearly 4000 dollars on his car besides making a bank deposit of 14,000 dollars.
When police interviewed Permal, two weeks after Prasad was found dead, he denied knowing or having met the victim.

However, when police played him the recording from inside the car he changed his story.
He quickly pinned the murder on Kumar and said he only helped him purchase the petrol.
Permal said he was paid just over 4000 dollars for his role.
The trial is expected to last four weeks.